Northport, Alabama Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Northport, Alabama
City
City of Northport
A view of Downtown Northport
Location of Northport in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Tuscaloosa
Area
• City	17.88 sq mi (46.30 km²)
• Land	17.49 sq mi (45.29 km²)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.01 km²)
Elevation	220 ft (70 m)
Population (2020)
• City	31,125
• Density	1,780.00/sq mi (687.25/km²)
• Metro	235,628 (US: 190th)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	35473, 35475, 35476
Area code(s)	205 & 659
FIPS code	01-55200
GNIS feature ID	0152708
Website	www.cityofnorthport.org

Northport is a city in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. It is located in the west-central part of the state. The city sits on the Black Warrior River, right across from downtown Tuscaloosa.

Northport is part of the Tuscaloosa metropolitan area. In the 2020 census, its population was 31,125. This made it the 17th most populated city in Alabama. Northport officially became a city in 1871.

Northport's Location and Area
Northport's Population Over Time
- Population in 2010
- Population in 2000
Northport's Culture and Events
Famous People from Northport
Images for kids
See also

Northport's Location and Area

Northport is very close to the larger city of Tuscaloosa. Many people who live in Northport work in Tuscaloosa or other parts of Tuscaloosa County. The Black Warrior River forms a big part of the border between the two cities.

Both Northport and Tuscaloosa grew up where the river became easier to travel by boat. This spot is called the fall line. It is where the Appalachian Highlands (specifically, the Cumberland Plateau) meet the Gulf Coastal Plain. Northport is on the north side of the river.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that Northport covers about 17.66 square miles (45.74 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 17.46 square miles (45.22 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.52 square kilometers), is water.

Northport's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1870	604	—
1880	564	−6.6%
1890	413	−26.8%
1900	424	2.7%
1910	500	17.9%
1920	1,606	221.2%
1930	2,173	35.3%
1940	3,187	46.7%
1950	3,885	21.9%
1960	5,245	35.0%
1970	9,435	79.9%
1980	14,291	51.5%
1990	17,366	21.5%
2000	19,435	11.9%
2010	23,330	20.0%
2020	31,125	33.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Population in 2010

In 2010, Northport had 23,330 people living in 9,430 households. About 6,060 of these were families. The city had about 1,598 people per square mile (617 per square kilometer). There were 10,256 housing units in total.

About 29.3% of households had children under 18. About 45.2% were married couples. Around 15.3% were households led by a female without a husband. About 35.7% were not families.

The average household had 2.40 people. The average family had 2.99 people. The median age in Northport was 34.8 years.

Population in 2000

In 2000, Northport had 19,435 people living in 7,844 households. About 5,255 of these were families. The city had about 1,328 people per square mile (513 per square kilometer). There were 8,509 housing units.

About 32.8% of households had children under 18. About 48.3% were married couples. Around 15.7% were households led by a female without a husband. About 33.0% were not families.

The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 2.98 people. The median age in Northport was 35 years.

Northport's Culture and Events

The Kentuck Fine Art Gallery, downtown Northport

Northport is known for its cultural events. One of the most famous is the Kentuck Festival of the Arts.

Kentuck Festival of the Arts

Every October, artists come to Kentuck Park to show their amazing work. The festival celebrates different kinds of art, like folk art and modern art. It also features traditional crafts. You can watch potters, quilters, and basket makers show how they create their crafts.

The Kentuck Festival of the Arts is very popular. It brings up to 20,000 visitors to Northport each year. This event also helps the local economy.

Recently, the Kentuck Festival of the Arts board decided to move the 2024 festival. It will now be held in Tuscaloosa, across the Black Warrior River. This change happened after 52 years of the festival being in Kentuck Park. Kentuck Park is now being turned into a sports complex by the city of Northport. There were disagreements between the city council and the festival's board. This included Northport reducing funding for the festival in 2023.

Art Night and Dickens Downtown

Another tradition in Northport is Art Night. This event happens on the first Thursday of every month. Many art galleries in Northport stay open later for this special night. You can often see artists demonstrating their skills. A bus service connects downtown Northport with downtown Tuscaloosa for this event. It is part of Tuscaloosa's Art and Soul event.

Dickens Downtown is a holiday event held on the first Tuesday in December. People come to see the city transformed to look like 19th-century England.

Northport Heritage Museum

The Northport Heritage Museum has many old items and photos. These show the history of the city and how it has changed over time.

Future Water Park Plans

Northport is planning to build a large water park. This project is expected to cost 22 million dollars. It was planned to be finished by 2025. However, some local residents have concerns about the water park's location. They worry about noise, more traffic, and how it might affect home values. There are also concerns that the city's growth might impact long-standing farming communities nearby.